Lateral thinking is a creative problem-solving technique developed by Edward de Bono. It involves looking at problems in unexpected ways in order to break standard thinking patterns and arrive at novel solutions. Some key aspects of lateral thinking include relaxing rigid thought structures, using chance, and considering alternative perspectives. De Bono developed techniques like the Six Thinking Hats method to encourage lateral thinking. Lateral thinking puzzles aim to demonstrate how reexamining assumptions can reveal new insights into seemingly impossible problems.

2. Lateral Thinking
Thinking Out
of the Box!

4.  Relaxation of rigid control of
vertical thinking.
 Use of chance
 Search for different ways of
looking at things
Principles of

5. What isLateralThinking?
• Search for
alternatives.
• Ignores logical
direction and moves
sideways
• Is “an attitude of mind

6. Lateral Thinking
 Lateral thinking is a term
coined by Edward de Bono, a
Maltese psychologist,
physician and writer
 Edward defines Lateral
Thinking as methods of
thinking concerned with
changing concepts and
perception.

7. Lateral Thinking Puzzles
 Edward de Bono denotes lateral
thinking as a problem-solving style
that involves looking at the given
situation from unexpected angles.
 Sometimes a problem seems difficult
or insoluble because our assumptions
about it are wrong.

8.  Edward proposed ‘Six Thinking Hats'
technique which is an important and
powerful technique.
 It is used to look at decisions from a
number of important perspectives.
 This forces you to move outside your
habitual thinking style and helps you to get
a more rounded view of a situation
 Each 'Thinking Hat' is a different style of
thinking. These are explained below:
Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats

9. Six Thinking Hats
 Blue Hat Thinking: Managing the thinking
 White Hat Thinking: Just the facts
 Green Hat Thinking: Creativity. Ideas. Possibilities
 Yellow Hat Thinking: Benefits. Pluses
 Black Hat Thinking: Difficulties. Problems
 Red Hat Thinking: Feelings. Gut Instinct. Intuition

10. Lateral Thinking Puzzles
 The Surgeon...
 A father and his son are involved in a car
accident, as a result of which the father is
very badly injured and his son is rushed to
hospital for emergency surgery. However,
the surgeon takes one look at the boy and
says "I cannot operate on him". When
asked why, the surgeon replies "Because
he's my son...".
 How could this be the case?

11. Answer
The surgeon is the boy's
mother...

12. Example
• You are driving down the road in your car on
a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a
bus stop and you see three people waiting
for the bus
• An old lady who looks as if she is about to
die.
• An old friend who once saved your life.
• The perfect partner you have been dreaming
about.
• Knowing that there can only be one
passenger in your car, whom would you
choose?

13.  The old lady of course! After helping the old
lady into the car, you can give your keys to
your friend, and wait with your perfect
partner for the bus
Answer

15. Two mathematicians are sitting opposite to each other for a
cup of coffee. They looked at the matter written on the
paper which is kept on the table .
One said “ Its Wrong”, another said “ Its Right”. Both are
correct.
How is it possible? What
is written on the paper?
?

16. Answer
:

17. I +IX =X
Right

18. Wrong

20. There are six eggs in
the basket. Six people
each take one egg,
how can it be that
one egg is left in the
basket?

24. A police officer saw a truck
driver clearly going the
wrong way down a one-
way street, but did not try
to stop him.
Why?

25. First thoughts …

26.  The truck driver was
walking on the one-
way street
Answer:

28.  New Shoes:
 One day, two mothers and two
daughters went shopping for shoes.
Their shopping spree was successful
— each bought a pair of shoes, and
all together, they had three pairs.
How is this possible?

29. Answer
 Only three people went shopping: a
grandmother, a mother and a
daughter — but remember that the
mother was the grandmother's
daughter!

31. Guess the word.

34. Interviewer -- He ordered a cup of coffee for the
candidate. Coffee arrived kept before the
candidate, then he asked what is before you?
Candidate: Instantly replied
"Tea“
He got selected. Why?

35. Here “You” means“U”
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS T U VWXYZ

37. Manhole Covers
Why is it better to have round manhole
covers than square ones?

39. Side is smaller than diagonal of square
cover. It means, there is a chance that
the cover may fall inside.

40. So round cover isbetter

42. Guess the word.

45. Guess the word.

48. Guess the word.

51. Guess the word.

54. Guess the word.

57. Guess the word.

60. Guess the word.

63. Guess the word.

65. USES OF LATERAL THINKING
 CREATING NEW
IDEAS
 PROBLEM SOLVING
 PROCESSING
 PERIODIC
REASSESSMENT
 DEVELOPING
FRESH THINKING

66. Lateral thinking…
“…is not a magic formula”
Is an attitude
Is a habit of mind
Aims for simplicity and effectiveness
Seeks escape from dominant order

67. Questions ?

68. Dr.K.Kumaresan
Thank you